Heavy sigh. Everett has left me with more questions than answers, but that‘s a good thing. I suppose a sequel and/or a prequel is too much to hope for.

I have two fox themed morning mugs to cheer me up during next four years of sound bites.

Terrific introductory chapter to this highly relevant guide to Arendt‘s thinking/political philosophy. I appreciate the fact Stonebridge recognizes Arendt wasn‘t perfect and we are a work in progress with effort.

The end of the first chapter left me thinking about the new admin “eyeing new immigrant detention centers outside major US cities.” Same scapegoating, different target. #resistance @kspenmoll

Loved the movie! Beautiful cinematography and fabulous acting. I‘m going to try the novel, hopefully the audio version.

Listened a second time in preparation for the sequel. I enjoyed it even better! Narrator has the perfect voice and accent for it. 😁

I think this novel especially appeals to me having grown up in an isolated AK Native village. It has a familiar ring.

Breakfast with childish humor because sometimes it‘s the little things that get you through. 🤡😉

I listened to the audio version of Orbital (what now seems like ages ago) and really enjoyed it. I recall it being meditative, something I am typically drawn to because life is so noisy.

😳 Can one live with revenge or justice, whichever it is?

Entertaining enough of a listen to keep me going. Off to look for the next one in the series, though apparently Eskens doesn‘t refer to it as such.

Spent the day hopping around to bookstores with hubby. For the first time in maybe ever he got a pile and I am coming home with these two! 😲

Tagged is for #resistance buddy read. 👊🏽 Thumbing through I‘m seeing great nuggets of wisdom.

https://youtu.be/STTrRr1ksCE?si=BPaoLj2Cx7JIg02K

Velshi‘s editorial is an excellent reminder about the privilege and work of civic engagement!

This time a Somali chicken stew that was fabuloso! Husband asked for it to be put in regular rotation. #Mtcookbook

Seconds later…..this is a good reminder not to let others live in my head. I think I should rewatch the Inside Out movies too. 😔

Breakfast with James. 💛 Hooked right from the beginning.

This was a good audio distraction because it is a plot driven mystery. It‘s always a bit jarring when the setting is familiar.

It occurs to me in retrospect the Latin motto in this novel was not lived by half the American eligible voting population. 😒 Act with integrity no matter how the chips may fall, including your own wallet.

To the rest of the world for the Dumpster Fire, I‘m sorry. We tried. But we will try again and again and again…..it‘s worth the fight.

#embarrassment 😳😔

She‘s watching……and waiting.

Vote my fellow Litsy Americans!

Had an impromptu trip for fun to the cities and bookshops are always on the agenda. 😁

The tagged book was such a quietly lovely read several years ago on Kindle, that I had to get a paper copy for a reread. Who knew the life of a snail was so fascinating? Plus, Elisabeth is not just writing about snails in the abstract, but about the actual snail she unexpectedly shared her life with while she was bedridden for months.

“To be forgotten the very moment she thought she had been discovered and found precious was a punishment adult and terrible.” Poor Theresa, that is the story of her young life.

Complicated characters populate this novel. They are certainly not cardboard cutouts, which I wholly appreciated. However, for me it lacked a narrative drive so I didn‘t feel all that compelled to pick it up. #PersephoneClub

Still climbing #Mtcookbook! Beef Curry for dinner last night and Zucchini Muffins for a Sunday treat.

My kids liked the curry, but my son‘s friend ate before he came over.😂

Another so-so. I‘m not having outstanding audio listens lately. 😐 The MC in this one is difficult to like, though she has her reasons, and it felt like there were one too many threads in the storyline.

The premise is an interesting one; the narrator/MC is the spirit of a young 15th C teen who essentially eavesdrops on Sand and Chopin. I would have preferred the focus to have been on the young girl‘s life. But, hey ho.

I‘m unlikely to remember this one unless someone mentions Sand & Chopin.

Wow, I am guessing chapter 5 pretty much sums up this sad & fraught father daughter relationship. 😟 The chapter also probably explains why they are who they have come to be, which is damaged people. #PersephoneClub

Chili Crisp - it‘s heaven sent. Or maybe hell sent, depending on your POV. 🔥

I had the house and shrimp stir fry all to myself last night and I‘m not going to share the leftovers for lunch either! 😂

#Mtcookbook

My daughter‘s answer for me: “library truck.” 😂👍🏾🙌🏾

This was something to listen to….just okay for me. I was far more interested in the contemporary timeline and unfortunately it encompassed only a fraction of the plot.

But, yay for strong female characters!

Equally lovely & meaningful the second time around.
💛🧡💙

This looks outrageously sweet, but it isn‘t. Instead it‘s more akin to a rich buttery coffee cake. “Oh my god,” was my husband‘s reaction.

Many thumbs up for this treat!

#Mtcookbook

Not what I expected - delightfully so. 😄

I‘m going to be thinking about this one because there is a lot to chew on.

Is this a perfect novel? Nope, in fact there are elements I don‘t appreciate and frankly I‘ve read better debut novels. However Kaveh has a very distinctive creative voice that isn‘t forgettable. This won‘t be a spine on the shelf I‘ll wonder whether I‘ve read.

Just finished a reread of this surprisingly funny novel. I did not recall the humor Collins infuses in the mystery!

Poor poor Ezra Jennings; I‘m a bit cross at Collins for refusing to tell what surely was a tragic backstory. Collins could have given him his own novel!

The 1944 edition with William Sharp‘s illustrations was a delight, despite the very musty odor. Perhaps that contributed to the atmosphere?

Finally found an audio book I might not bail on! 🤞🏾🤞🏾 I‘ve been on a bailing spree. 😅 So fa I‘m enjoying Eleanor‘s curiosity and perspective on social norms many of us take for granted.

😃 Tex-Mex, Southwestern, Cal-Mex, Floribbean, Latino-Southern, NYC Latino, Latino Midwestern

Love this collection of contemporary Latin influenced dishes! Fusion cuisine is one of the best aspects of globalization.

Planning to try the Kogi Kimchi Burritos first!

“Mr. Blake idly turned over the books on his bedroom table. I had taken the precaution of looking at them … all classical works; all of course, immediately immeasurably superior to any thing produced in later times; and of present point of view, possessing the one great merit of enchaining nobody‘s interest, and exciting nobody‘s brain.” 🥱😴

Bahahahaha This whole section of the chapter, not just that quote, had me laughing and made my day! 😆

Well…..I did listen further. I‘m 80% in and bailing because I have other audio books in the queue that are calling.

Overall this did not connect on a human level & felt pretentious. The the mini lectures, both formal & informal, were boring. 🤷🏾‍♀️

On to the next! 😄

🤔 Halfway mark and I‘m going to keep listening, but I‘m not feeling a connection with the characters; they aren‘t very relatable to me.

Odd combo, but definitely having a repeat tonight! Pizzawich & Spiced Carrot soup. 😋 #Mtcookbook

For years I‘ve made James Peterson‘s recipe for curried carrot soup, but this one has usurped it.

Matchy today! 🙃 Loving this novel, so witty & insightful. Perhaps a bit self indulgent, but forgivable.

Guffawing at the wholly pathological superficial “politeness” of Midwesterners, which apparently is akin to Iranian etiquette, and describing his rich girlfriend as “American Christian, the kind that believed Jesus had just needed a bigger gun.”

Unpopular opinion 😏

I appreciated the unconventional mystery plot device, but the writing style wasn‘t for me. Too many words to the point of repetition & overwrought emotion. At times I was thinking “get on with it already”…..It reinforces my admiration for the power of effective spare writing.

As opposed to The Birthday Party which was MADDENING in thrilling anticipation of the climax, being akin to a movie in slow motion. 😵 👍🏾

Apparently I have a green thing happening today. 💚

I‘m happy to be sent to my room. 😊

Harira soup - I wish there was a scratch & sniff option in Litsy. 😄 Such a lovely combination of spices!

This book has a fantastic variety of chicken soups from around the world.

#Mtcookbook

Another winner treat - pumpkin bread! 🎃 Truthfully it tastes like gingerbread. (🤫 It does not need the cream cheese frosting, don‘t tell the fam.)

#Mtcookbook

Apparently humanity was living in a post fact world as far back as 1859. 😂 😅

Recommending this for IRL bookclub - we‘ll see if it gets picked. Highly recommend for Littens! If you are looking for a contemplative seasonal (end of summer) read, this is beautiful.

Our selection for bookclub tonight is The Great Gatsby, which I‘ve retitled The Great Mediocrity 😜, but another member said he recently read E of E and wanted to chat. I thumbed though the important bits I tabbed and it brought back a flood of resonance. 💙 It‘s a huggable book.

This person is an evangelical Christian and I‘m not biblically literate so I hope he‘s not expecting a deep dive comparison with Genesis. It is not an exact retelling.

Took me a long time to get through this novel because of life.

I enjoyed it but did not absolutely love it. Packed with a lot of feminist themes to think about 👍🏾, it just didn‘t have the drive of Elena Knows. That one is hard to top and it‘s difficult not to make comparisons. Elena is still my favorite of the three I‘ve read so far.

If you like tidy endings, take a pass. 😅 Pineiro might be planning a trilogy or leaving the door open?

I‘ve only just started this collection on audio (2 stories in) and wow, I‘m going to need to get this in print! 😍 The cast of narrators is out of sight!

I‘ve already stacked Six Walks.

Perhaps an odd combination of shopping today. 😄 Injera & a Brit classic.

Habasha food for dinner! 😋

Not forgettable! I‘m very surprised this held my attention given it revolves around the mermaid myth, but it did. The narration was terrific and I‘m sure made all the difference. 🧜🏾‍♀️

It could have used less sex and more plot so I‘d say it‘s a slight pick. Definitely evocative of the islands & culture.

Happy Campers in the house! 😋

#Mtcookbook

A long overdue reread. I can‘t believe this would be on any high school reading list because what would a teen relate to in this novel?

I can‘t say I enjoyed Fitzgerald‘s writing style, but I did enjoy examination of Nick‘s loss of innocence about humanity and the American promise of infinite progress.